Erika, nice to have you here! So if I'm reading correctly, you'd like to be down 17 pounds in about 3 1/2 weeks.....

Have you decided your plan of attack? You can find everything here from Atkins to Weight Watchers and tips on eating better and exercise. Let us know which plan you're intending to follow, and keep us up to date on your progress! Good luck!

I don't want to start off by sounding non supportive but 17 pounds in a few weeks sounds like it might be unrealistic. That's almost three quarters of a pound a day, and 7.5% of your body weight.

Why the rush? Why not start a great healthy lifestyle, see how far you get by the end of January and then keep moving.

I say that because we see a lot of people come in with tough goals and then they quit if they don't make them, thinking they've "failed on their programs. When in fact, the human body may not work that way!

Anyway, like I said, I'm not trying to be a downer, but just give a little perspective...

__________________

My 5 C's of healthy living: Commitment to conscious control, with the understanding that choices have consequences

so, i see the back specialist in the morning...i'm hoping there will be no need for surgery.
it was 75 degrees outside today and i failed to enjoy it...i don't like being ill.
i cleaned out the coconut ice cream so it's merely a figment of my imagination now...
i bought another big bag of ice from SONIC - the fast food place - it didn't even take much effort to not order a supersonic meal with tater tots liek i usually would, all the while saying to myself "i'll just start over again tomorrow"...i LOVE eating crushed ice! i could eat a bag in two days, but i don't think it gives me the daily water requirement, so i add about 2 16oz bottles of water a day to the ice.

i don't have to add anything to it in the morning except a bit more almond milk and to microwave. i ate about 1/2 cup of this with 1 egg/3 whites scrambled and a slice of spelt bread with a spread of earth balance.